System and method for direct charitable contributions from gaming apparatus

Abstract

An electronic wagering system may have a player input system, a game processor and a random outcome wagering event system in communication with the game processor. The electronic wagering system receives wagers on a wagering event generating a random outcome event that is used to determine outcomes on received wagers. The processor accounts for wagers placed, credits entered, wagers lost and wagers won and credit status. When the gaming system does not require a contribution to a non-gaming institution, the player input system must contain a specific control that enables a player to input instructions on each of or at least one of recipient(s) of a charitable contribution, amount of contribution from either credit status or directly from winnings before being contributed to the credit status.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An electronic wagering system comprising a player input system with player input controls, a game processor, a credit system selected from the group consisting of a bill validator and a cashless ticketing system including a ticket printer and a random outcome wagering event system in communication with the game processor, the electronic wagering system receiving wagers on a wagering event, generating a random outcome event that is used to determine outcomes on received wagers, the game processor accounting for wagers placed from credit derived from the credit system, credits entered, wagers lost and wagers won and credit status, the player input system containing a specific player input control that enables a player to input instructions on each of recipients of a charitable contribution to at least one specific non-gaming institution, a fixed amount or a percentage amount of winning outcomes before being contributed to the credit status, wherein the game processor is configured to receive identification of an individual player through the player input system and to provide a hard-copy receipt of a total amount of contributions from the player input system, and wherein the cashless ticketing system of the electronic wagering system and includes a ticket-in-ticket-out printing system in communication with the game processor and from which the hard-copy receipt may be printed through the ticket-in-ticket-out printing system, and the game processor is further configured to store amounts of the charitable contributions in an intermediate accounting system, and further configured so that later loses are offset by a return of a portion up to 50% of the charitable contributions back to a player credit account on the game processor, and wherein a fingerprint scanner is associated with the electronic wagering system to implement player identification and also a player card reader is associated with the electronic wagering system to implement player identification, wherein the game processor is configured to require confirmation by both fingerprint identification from the fingerprint scanner and reading of a player card of the player. 
     
     
       2. The electronic wagering system of  claim 1  wherein all contributions are initially stored in an intermediate electronic fund, and a predefined minimum amount of stored funds in the intermediate electronic fund are incapable of return to credit on the player input system. 
     
     
       3. The electronic wagering system of  claim 1  wherein the player input controls contain a specific player control dedicated to at least one function selected from the group consisting of a) selection of the at least one specific non-gaming institution, b) amounts of contributions to a fund dedicated to the at least one specific non-gaming institution, and c) percentages of bonuses to be dedicated to the at least one specific non-gaming institution. 
     
     
       4. The electronic wagering system of  claim 1  wherein a display is associated with the electronic wagering system which identifies in symbols or alphanumerics the at least one specific non-gaming institution to which the player input system has identified as a recipient of funds. 
     
     
       5. The electronic wagering system of  claim 4  wherein the display also identifies at least one of total amounts transferred to the at least one specific non-gaming institution during a present series of play at the electronic wagering system, amounts transferred to the at least one specific non-gaming institution during a present wagering game, amounts transferred to the at least one specific non-gaming institution during a specific period of time at the electronic gaming system, and amounts transferred to the at least one specific non-gaming institution during a specific period of time by multiple gaming systems. 
     
     
       6. The electronic wagering system of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic wagering player position comprising the player input controls containing a specific player control dedicated to at least one function selected from the group consisting of a) selection of at least one specific non-gaming institution, b) amounts of contributions to a fund dedicated to the at least one specific non-gaming institution, and c) percentages of bonuses to be dedicated to the at least one specific non-gaming institution. 
     
     
       7. The electronic wagering system of  claim 1  further comprising a display associated with a gaming station which identifies in symbols or alphanumerics the at least one specific non-gaming institution to which a player position at the gaming station has identified as a recipient of funds.